Search form

Search form

The Utah State Board of Education has issued two resolutions calling on state officials to continue their support for the Common Core State Standards, and stating the board's position on the protection of student data. Critics calling for the state to end its participation in the common core have been concerned that student information could become part of a national database. "There seems to be some confusion surrounding the Common Core so the intent was to help clarify some of the misconceptions about that," said David Crandall, vice chairman of the state school board.

Related Summaries

A member of the Utah State Board of Education is urging the board to discuss giving schools more autonomy in implementing Common Core State Standards for math. The request calls for allowing schools to choose the new or old model when designing a math-course sequence. Some say a change at this stage of implementation could be challenging.

In this commentary, National Board Certified Teacher Lee Ann Wall, a supporter of the Common Core State Standards, writes that the common core is an improvement over the current standards in Louisiana, where she teaches. She also clears up what she believes are misconceptions about the common core -- stating that it is not a federally mandated curriculum.

Utah is turning the tables on traditional professional development for teachers by using video and social media to help teachers transition to the Common Core State Standards. The state is using the subscription-based social media platform Teaching Channel Teams, which includes 700 free videos and reaches a community of 260,000 educators through a secure network.

Three years after adopting the Common Core State Standards, some lawmakers in Kansas, Missouri, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Indiana, Alabama, South Carolina and Utah are reconsidering the standards. Supporters of the common core say they will help unify standards and benefit student achievement, while critics voice concern about state autonomy over education.

Pittsburgh Public Schools has begun increasing rigor in math and literacy as it incorporates Common Core State Standards. As a result, siblings in different grades will be learning some of the same material but at different times this year. Some concepts from Algebra 2 have been moved to Algebra 1 this year. "It really is a great example of ratcheting up the rigor," said Jerri Lippert, chief academic officer for Pittsburgh Public Schools.